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Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is suing a Texas firm that he says lured workers to what they represented as 6-month jobs with benefits adding armor to military vehicles, but the work only lasted about a month, leaving workers prematurely unemployed, as a release put it.

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (January 28, 2009) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the filing of a lawsuit against a Texas-based military contractor and its chief executive officer for luring employees to a job at Fort Drum through false promises and deceit that ultimately left many prematurely unemployed.

Austin, Texas-based M&E Technical Services, Inc. (METs) fraudulently induced more than 100 workers, most from the Watertown region, to work on a military contract adding armor to vehicles used by U.S. troops in combat overseas. At job fairs and through advertisements, the company falsely promised prospective workers long-term employment with benefits while knowing any work would actually only last a few weeks and that no benefits would ever be provided.

“METs used lies and deceit in order to obtain a commitment from
employees who were just looking for a better job,” said Attorney
General Cuomo. “This company used these workers and then dropped them
without fulfilling any of its promises. When any employer promises
certain terms of employment in order to attract workers, the employer
must stay true to its word.”

Congressman John M. McHugh (NY-Pierrepont Manor), said, “On behalf
of the impacted workers, many of whom also contacted my office with
their complaints, I extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to the
Attorney General for investigating this matter and bringing charges
against the contractor. Contracting at Fort Drum has been a boom to the
North Country, providing jobs and associated positive economic impact to
my constituents. This can only continue if we ensure that contractors
play by the rules. In concert with the Attorney General’s action, I
have requested the Secretary of the Army investigate this matter to
ensure the military has the proper requirements in place to make certain
workers are treated fairly.”

The Attorney General’s Office began receiving complaints last
September describing a persistent pattern of METs promising 6-months of
work and health benefits while knowing the $1.51 million Fort Drum
project was a short-term contract meant only to last from Sept. 16 to
October 14. Most employees were let go within two weeks of beginning
work. According to court documents, METs also sent the employees
inconsistent health insurance materials, knowing full well that no
health benefits would ever be provided to the workers.

The Attorney General’s lawsuit claims METs was engaged in a
pervasive, deliberate practice to promise workers more than was ever
expected to be delivered, including 6-months of work and health
benefits, in an attempt to have a full workforce as required by its
contract. It seeks to require METs to pay full restitution to employees,
penalties and costs.

According to complaints received by the Attorney General’s Office,
many employees left good-paying jobs to take the position based upon
METs’ deceptive claims. Most of the workers were let go from the job
within 2 weeks with no health insurance or even promised wages.
Additionally, several of the employees’ tools – which METs required
them to purchase in order to get the job – were stolen from the job
site.

METs President and CEO Michael Donnelly posted a letter on the
company’s Website on November 6 acknowledging that the employees
were “universally misled” and that the “mission” was “cut
short.” However, the Attorney General’s lawsuit claims that METs and
Donnelly always knew the “mission” would be for a short duration,
and that the promises of restitution in Donnelly’s letter have not
been fulfilled.

The case is being handled by Assistant Attorney General-In-Charge of
the Watertown Regional Office Deanna Nelson with assistance from Senior
Consumer Representative Carol Lively and Investigator Chad Shelmidine.

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